Lighter



S. SEGAL Feb. 24, 1931.

LIGHTER Filed March 29, 1928 I N V EN TOR. Sam uel Seg al,

A TTORN E YS.

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED `sfrirr1`sl PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL SEGAL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 SEGAL LOCK & HARDWARE CO., INC., 0F NEETYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LIGHTER Application tiled-March 29, 1928. Serial No. 265,531.

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved lighter primarily to be employed as a smokers accessory or applianc It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character in which the element of pyrophoric material will be retained and fed in an improved manner, and in which a great amount of such material will be available, thus making itunnecessary to frequently reload the li hter.

A further oject of the invention is that of constructing a lighter in which the wicksnuft'er and sparking mechanism may be operated in an improved manner and in which the snuifer will be normally retained in seated position in an eiiicient manner.

Another object is that of furnishing a lighter which may be filled in a more desirable manner than heretofore and in which an adequate supply of fluid by capillary attraction through the wick is at all times assured.

An additional object is that of providing a lighter with which there may be combined a watch of conventional construction and in which the parts will be relatively few in number and rugged and simple in construction, these parts being readily combined to provide a lighter operating over long periods of time with freedom from mechanical difficulty.

With these and further objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings, wherein there are illustrated practical embodiments of the invention and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of lighter;

Fig. 2 is a'plan view thereof, certain of the parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of alighter as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 4.--4 of Fig. 3, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are side and end views, res ectively, of a lighter having a slightly modied form of casing.

In these views the numeral 10 indicates a casing which may be provided with a base portion or ange 11 and a top 12 of any desirable construction and configuration, this casing mounting a wick nozzle and 'spark- `producing mechanism, one adjacent the other.

With primary'reference to the wick nozzle, it will be observed that, contrary to conventional construction the .top of the casing is formed with a centrally screw-threaded opening within which a bored plug 13 is positioned, a wick 14 extending through this plug and into the interior of the casing. Thus, it is unnecessary to provide an additional filler opening in the lighter base, it being observed that the flange of the plug may be roughened as at 15 so that this element may readily be detached from or applied to the casing, as desired. Y

`With a view to providing a sparking structure, it will be observed that in the embodiments illustrated a pair of ears 16 extend upwardly from the top of the lighter and mount between them a shaft including a stem 17 screw-threaded as at 18 and having a shoulder 19 beyond which a thumb wheel 20 is disposed. The shoulder bears within an opening of one ear and the end portion of the stem bears against the edge of a corresponding opening in the second ear. Mounted upon this stem is a sparking disk 21, this mounting being effected preferably by forcing into the central opening of the disk a bushing 22 of suitablel metal (as, for example, brass), the bore of which is threaded to correspond tothe threads 18. Thus, it will be apparent that the parts may be assembled, as shown in Figure 2, and the sparking disk, under normal actuation of the parts (i. e., a turning of the stem in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1) will result in these parts being virtually locked against relative movement. However,

they may be detached readily by simply reversing the rotation of the thumb wheel 2O and retaining the sparking disk against rotation, thus permitting replacement or inspection when necessary.

The plug is covered by a snuffer or cap member 23 from which there extends a lever preferably in the form of a shield 24 U-shaped in cross section. This shield is formed with openings through which the stem 17 passes,

the latter thus serving as a bearing shaft, an accidental movement of the snufler cap from its normal and seated position is prevented preferably by forming the arms of the shield member with bulged portions 25 which cooperatel with complimentary portions 26 formed in the ears 16, theseportions registering when the parts are in the position shown in igure l. i

W'th a view to providing a housing or reservoir for the pyrophoric material a split tube 27 is utilized, which tube may be an integral continuation of the ears 16, permitting of the manufacture of these parts as a single unit. In the embodiments under consideration this tube is housed by the casing rather than being secured to the exterior thereof in order that neatness of appearance may be had. Such housing is achieved by bulging the edge of the casing to furnish a tube portion 28, space being provided bet-Ween adjacent edges of this latter portion and this space aligning with the slit of the tube 27. Disposed slidably within the latter tube .is a block 29 which may be held normally against movement in any desirable manner as, for example, by the use of a set screw 30. The bore of the tube is dis osed in line with the disk 21 and plugs 31 o suitable sparking material are arranged within the tube to bear against the disk, this being assured, preferably, by means of a spring 32 interposed between the lowermost of the plugsand'the block. It will be perceived that when it is necessary to reload the lighter with plugs of sparking material that this may be done readily by simply dismounting the closing cap 33-conceding that the latter is used-and withdrawing the block 29, after which a suitable quantity of plugs are inserted in the. tube and the parts are rearranged. It is, of course, obvious that a filling of the Hint containing tube may be accomplished by simply removing the stem 17 and filling the tube from the upper end, if this is desired.

It is sometimes desirable to combine with a device of this character a watch and in order to provide a structure which will permit of the employment of a watch of st-andard type and size with the lighter and at minimum expense, the structurev suggested in Figure 1 may be utilized, in which the lighter case presents pairspf outwardly extending lugs 34 adjacent itsupper and lower ends, each of these lugs being formedwith an opening for the reception of a pin 35 which, in accordance with conventional construction, is spring-pressed (not shown) and associated with a tube 36 which extends between the ears 37 of a watch 38. These tubes serve normallyas mountings -for the inner ends of straps to encircle the wrist but it is patent that by means of the present construction they may be employed for the purpose of mounting the watch on the lighter case.

If'it is desired to have the watch or similar ornament or article extend below the lighter case, this may be done readily by having the base of the lighter continued in the forni of a plate 39 having eais 40 which cooperate with the spring-pressed pins 35 aforedescribed in connection with the form of device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in use the parts are normally in the position shown in Figure 1, but that an operator may cause his thumb to bear simultaneously against the periphery of the thumb wheel and rear arm of the lever provided by the shield 24. Upon sufficient pressure being brought to bear the frictional engagement of the parts will be overcome and the lshaft mounting the sparking disk will be rotated rapidly simultaneously with the raising of the snuer cap. Thus, a stream of' sparks will be directed towards the wick and a fiame will be produced. Upon it being desired to snuff this flame it is unnecessary to rotate the thumb wheel, it being obvious that by simply depressing the cap the shield will move with respect to the sparking disk and upon the parts 25-26 engaging, the cap will be retained in proper position to guard against an evaporation of the ignitable fluid within the case. When it is necessary to feed the plug or plugs of pyrophoric material this may be achieved by simply loosening the set screw 30 and moving the block associated therewith upwardly, after which, upon the set screw being tightened the parts will again be ready for use.

It will-be observed that in all forms of the device practically the same construction has been illustrated, Figures 5 and 6 showing merely a slightly neater lighter case than that shown in the other figures and, furthermore, illustrating proportions which are, in certain aspects, more pleasing to the eye.

From the foregoing it will be understood that, .among others, the objects hereinbefore mentioned are achieved. However, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A lighter including a casing, a part of the walls of said casing being bulged to provide a slotted tube portion, a plug of pyrophoric material within said tube portion, means also within the same for maintaining the position of said plug, means for locking said maintaining means against movement and extending through the slot formed in said tube portion, a wick extending from said casing and spark-producing means moilnted by said casing and adjacent said Wic 2. A lighter including'a casing, spark producing and iiame maintaining means aociated with saidv casing, said spark producing means including a slotted tube, a pyrophoric plug within said tube, a follower also within said tube, a clamping screw secured to said follower and having its shank extending through said slot, its head frictionally bearin against the outer face of said tube to maintain the position of said follower within said tube.

In testimony whereof I'aix my signature.

SAMUEL SEGAL. 

